Amid virus, city is a talented, tireless team
Dear Neighbors:
As the weather begins to welcome summer, windows are opening, yards are in full bloom, residents are walking, running, bicycling and enjoying time with family and friends. We certainly need this breath of fresh air after months inside playing cards, board games, reading, video conferencing and dreaming of sunshine and green spaces.
Your unwavering support and strength shined brighter than any cloud that hovered over our community during the past several weeks. You weathered a pandemic. Weathering a pandemic supersedes the old adage of walking five miles uphill to school both ways, for sure.
Parents scurried to ensure their children continued to learn remotely. Dining rooms turned into offices as people worked from home. First responders continued to protect as we walked an unfamiliar path. Sadly, for many, work hours were cut, jobs were lost and businesses struggled. The pomp and circumstance our 2020 graduates dreamed about for years was suddenly in jeopardy. And, some endured the fear and heartbreak of loved ones who fell prey to this horrible virus.
The tolerance, patience and overwhelming kindness that surrounded me in this community on some of the toughest days caused me to take pause, give thanks and replace some of my selfish thoughts with selfless action. Witnessing acts of kindness among strangers and genuine concern for others truly stopped me in my tracks. Kettering proved to be all in as one talented, tireless team.
So, here’s to you, Team Kettering! Although summer will look a bit different this year, I hope it evokes the same emotions we wait for during the coldest months. Perhaps having fewer distractions will enhance the feeling of the sun’s warmth on our faces, the sound of kids playing or the sights and sounds of the fountains at Lincoln Park. Using our minds to create summer’s magic, is the magic. I hope you feel it, too.
Take care,
Donald E. Patterson, Mayor